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Show NAVAJO COUNTRY REBORN 143 According to homestead laws, a Navajo hogan and brush shelter like these were not legal improvements on the land. Photograph courtesy of Record Group 75, National Archives, Washington, D.C. many cases, the whitemen had gained the land by using the homestead laws that should have protected the Navajos' prior claim. It is not surprising, then, that tensions flared into violence. Many white ranchers who had enjoyed the use of Navajo land had never gotten over their anger at the Navajos' return from Bosque Redondo. These ranchers often complained about Navajo raids. But at least one agent felt that either the ranchers were lying or the Navajos had acted in self-defense. "I am confident," said Agent Bennett, that "nothing short of starvation would induce them [the Navajos] to commence hostilities of any kind. I also believe that most of the people of this Territory are waiting anxiously for, and would take advantage of, any opportunity to get the Navajos into trouble." There were many such opportunities. Most regions of Navajoland rarely went a year between shootouts. Border conflicts sometimes seemed in danger of turning into full-fledged battles. For a time, it looked as if the old way of mutual raiding would take hold again. Only the use of troops and careful handling by army officers prevented serious battles. |